History of the Finn Gold Cup 1970 to 1979

15. Gold Cup 1970

Cascais, Portugal August 14-22

160 entries from 34 countries

The biggest fleet in any Finn Gold Cup most likely forever gathered in 1970 It was won and dominated by American sailors with Jörg Bruder winning for his first time, Sprague second and Andre third. After twice finishing as runner up, Bruder - already 37 - feared that this might be his last Gold Cup because of leg injuries. In the last race Bruder had to finish fifth or better in order to win the Cup, no matter what Sprague did. At the start Sprague used every match-race tactic he could in the huge fleet. Trying to hold Bruder back, Sprague luffed the Brazilian into the spectator fleet. But an the last beat Bruder was again leading. Sprague went up what he thought was the wrong side, but it turned out to be the right one. Now Sprague started a tacking duel until Bruder went head to wind because his rudder pintle broke. But Bruder lifted his centreboard in order to take off the pressure from his rudder and twisted the tiller with his bare but mighty hands. Sprague finished fourth and only could watch as the crippled Bruder crossing the line seconds before Andre and Nelis, who had both overstood the line, crossed planing an a screaming reach. It was the most dramatic win of any Gold Cup.

Final Results Gold Cup 1970

1.

Jörg Bruder

BL 3

23.7

2.

Henry Sprague

US 868

24.0

3.

Robert Andre

US 830

44.0

4.

Thomas Lundquist

S 530

53.7

5.

Guy Liljegren

S 554

55.0

6.

Bernd Dehmel

DDR 9

57.7

7.

Per Werenskiold

N 83

58.7

8.

Baudouin Binkhorst

H 4

58.7

9.

Pieter Keyzer

H 404

62.7

10.

Magnus Olin

S 509

65.7

11.

Uwe Mares

G 6

69.4

12.

Iain Macdonald-Smith

K 341

73.0

13.

Peter Conrad

US 530

75.0

14.

Willy Kuhweide

G 711

83.7

15.

Jacques Rogge

B 87

86.0

16.

S. Golser

I 418

86.0

17.

Serge Maury

F 96

89.0

18.

Fabio Albarelli

I 3

98.0

19.

Kees Douze

H 7

99.0

20.

Fritz Beck

H 449

11.0

21.

Andy Zawieja

PZ 321

115.0

22.

Hubert Raudaschl

OE 121

120.0

23.

B. Frimansson

S 328

122.0

24.

Jürgen Mier

DDR 3

128.0

25.

P. Akerson

S 32

128.0

26.

Patrick Pym

K 274

134.0

27.

Miroslav Vejvoda

CZ 111

13.40

28.

Thomas Jungblut

G 1146

142.0

29.

Michael Hupin

B 90

150.0

30.

Uwe Heinzmann

G 1122

156.0

31.

Elias Hatzipavlis

GR 122

157.0

32.

Lennart Gustavsson

S 558

161.0

33.

Hans Werner Zachariassen

G 1133

161.0

34.

Paul Phelan

KC 61

163.0

35.

Phillipe Soria

F 6

172.0

36.

E. Shaw

SA 182

172.0

37.

A. Leenstra

SA 410

179.0

38.

Victor Potapov

SR 15

181.0

39.

D. Kollock

US 780

183.0

40.

J. Eggers

US 814

184.0

41.

Jamiz Knasiecki

PZ 335

185.0

42.

J. Leistikow

G 1050

186.0

43.

Börge Sall

S 392

192.0

44.

G. Ehlers

G 1102

195.0

45.

Chris Law

K 321

196.0

46.

Achim Türklitz

G 556

200.0

47.

Vernon Stratton

K 334

202.0

48.

Nitall Dirdira

SR 4

203.0

49.

Björn Ribbhagen

S 540

205.0

50.

Ian Brown

K 350

207.0

51.

J. P. Boumans

B 76

218.0

52.

B. Bergsten

S 557

218.0

53.

John Clarke

KC 78

223.0

16. Gold Cup 1971

Toronto, Canada, October 1-9

87 entries from 21 countries

Because of new entry regulations and the poor reachability only 87 entries from 21 countries had arrived. Rickard Sarby was watching the races. After winning the North Americans just before the Gold Cup some misfortune in the first race (capsizing) made Jörg Bruder mad as a bull and he won by several hundred meters in the 20 knot wind. The next day Bruder was leading in a 20 knots wind again, when he tried to gybe with his boom vang still tight and capsized again. But he regained the lead and won again. A fierce duel between Carl van Duyne and Jörg in the next race ended with a narrow victory of Bruder after the lead changed 10 times. In the last race Bruder played it safe in the middle of the fleet, while Carl van Duyne gambled on a shift and won the race but not the Cup. On the last reach Carl tried all sort of tricks to slow down Bruder - overstanding the lay line and luffing like mad, but still had to finish ahead of Jörg. But finally Carl finished first and Bruder second, thus winning the Gold Cup for the second time.

Final Results Gold Cup 1971

1.

Jörg Bruder

BL 3

33.0

2.

Carl Van Dyne

US 245

34.0

3.

Serge Maury

F 7

51.7

4.

Ed Bennet

US 534

69.7

5.

Thomas Lundquist

S 532

74.0

6.

Thomas Jungblut

G 1146

77.0

7.

Göran Andersson

S 516

79.7

8.

Bret De Thier

KZ 133

89.7

9.

John Bertrand

KA 111

92.7

10.

G. Dahlstrom

S 156

99.7

11.

Arne Akerson

S 321

115.0

12.

Lennart Gustafsson

S 589

112.0

13.

Magnus Olin

S 509

116.7

14.

Henry Sprague

US 896

115.4

15.

Guy Liljegren

S 554

129.0

16.

Robbie Doyle

US 411

137.0

17.

Gordy Bowers

US 902

139.0

18.

P. Akerson

S 32

139.7

19.

Robert Andre

US 830

142.0

20.

John Clarke

KC 111

146.0

21.

Hubert Raudaschl

OE 131

149.0

22.

V. Neudoeffer

KC 93

155.0

23.

Richard Storer

KC 300

156.0

24.

Patrick Pym

K 274

163.0

25.

Hans Fogh

D 104

164.0

26.

Hans Werner Zachariassen

G 1160

164.0

27.

Chris Law

K 321

164.4

28.

Walter Mai

G 1171

196.4

29.

Andy Zawieja

PZ 321

171.0

17. Gold Cup 1972

Anzio, Italy, June 25-July 1

103 entries from 25 countries

For the first and perhaps last time in its 30 years of existence the Finn Gold Cup was won in three consecutive years by one man. Jörg Bruder from Brazil took the world championship again. This time Jörg used a new aluminium mast which he had developed similar to his successful wooden spars. He borrowed the Canadian ‘71 Raudaschl sail which had used to win the 1971 Gold Cup. Bruder’s speed was normal however he pointed higher with the new mast which was more flexible sideways at the top than the Needlespar masts. Bruder’s final score line of 2/3/2/1/4/6 is most impressive.

The 1972 Gold Cup was held in Anzio - 25 miles south of Rome - in typical Mediterranean weather. The winds were generally light at the beginning of the week but the last two races were sailed in a moderate westerly wind which produced a very big swell. These last two races were won in a most masterly manner by the Australian Olympic Finn helmsman John Bertrand, who was in front for the whole of the two races. He gradually moved further ahead, winning by over two minutes each race. Bertrand used the Olympic rig of a Needlespar mast and North sail on an Australian glassfibre hull. Certainly at the end of the week he was unbeatable in speed and tactics. But the lighter winds at the beginning showed a different winner each day and it was during this period that Bruder worked out an unassailable points lead, with consistent placings in the first three.

The first race of the regatta was led home by the former world champion and winner of Kiel Week 1972 Thomas Lundquist of Sweden who desperately held off Bruder’s last leg challenge. Fabio Albarelli of Italy, the bronze medalist at Acapulco, won the second race and the Swede, Lennart Gustafsson, the third. Finally in the light wind fourth race Bruder took the winner’s gun and increased his overall lead to an unassailable position. After his fifth race fourth place his only danger lay from Gustafsson, who could take the championship if he won and Bruder finished worse than fourth. In any event the last race was simple for Bruder as Gustafsson had a bad start and could never climb out of the pack. There had been little change on the fittings and gear side with one big exception; the universal acceptance of aluminium spars. A year previously the whole of the Finn class was against the introduction of aluminium; this year one third of the fleet sported metal masts and, to cap it all, aluminium masts finished first and second.

Final Results Gold Cup 1972

1.

Jörg Bruder

BL 3

19.7

2.

John Bertrand

KA 113

32.0

3.

Lennart Gustafsson

S 589

33.7

4.

Fabio Albarelli

I 465

50.4

5.

Thomas Lundquist

S 532

65.7

6.

Kim Weber

L 161

70.4

7.

Magnus Olin

S 509

75.0

8.

Elias Hatzipavlis

GR 164

84.7

9.

John Clarke

KC 111

93.7

10.

Bill Holmstrom

L 146

105.0

11.

Mikael Brandt

S 389

114.0

12.

Tom Sandberg

S 594

115.7

13.

Mauro Pelaschier

I 460

117.0

14.

Kent Carlsson

S 584

122.0

15.

A. Papaioannou

GR 165

125.0

16.

Baudouin Binkhorst

H 454

128.0

17.

Heilmut Duckeroff

G 1269

129.0

18.

Minski Fabris

Y 30

134.0

19.

Luciano Lievi

I 417

135.0

20.

Iain MacDonald-Smith

K 267

139.0

21.

Miroslav Vejvoda

CZ 111

141.0

22.

Torbjorn Ahlback

L 145

141.7

23.

Giorgio Gorla

I 435

146.0

24.

Fritz Gels

G 1100

147.0

25.

Guy Liljegren

S 4

152.0

26.

Rolf Beck

G 1268

167.0

27.

Kazuoki Matsyuama

J 15

168.0

28.

Bo Rogberg

S 398

172.0

29.

Claudio Biekarck

BL 10

174.0

30.

Christian Cuccurullo

F 651

176.0

31.

Magnus Lidholm

S 583

177.0

32.

Kevin MacLaverty

IR 21

182.0

33.

Sanford Riley

KC 143

183.0

18. Gold Cup 1973

Brest, France, July 14-23

103 entries from 20 countries

Brest turned out to be unsuitable for a major international regatta and was certainly not within the rules laid down for the Gold Cup. The IFA had approved of Brest on the understanding that the course would be set on the open sea outside. But instead, sailing was organised inside the harbour. One side of the course was far too close to the maximum tidal stream through the harbour entrance. Naval shipping and ferry traffic was heavy in the race area. Tidal streams in Brest are circular and vary considerably in strength. Vernon Stratton brought along a new double-bottom boat which received approval of the Measurement and Technical Committee. For the first time extensive Lamboley tests were used. The Lanaverres and Teels had the lowest permissible results, the Raudaschls performed mediocre. Almost all the front runners were using metal spars, Maury a Bruder-Alu mast, most others Needlespars. In the strongest winds wooden spars still proved to be superior. But the event was overshadowed by the death of Jörg Bruder who was killed in an air crash approaching Paris in order to defend the title. Nobody dominated as was the case in previous years and six different sailors look line honours. Before the last race Liljegren was leading in front of Olin and Maury. But Maury won the Cup by finishing second in front of Olin who was 4th and Liljegren who was 8th.

Final Results Gold Cup 1973

1.

Serge Maury

F 1

42.7

2.

Magnus Olin

S 584

44.7

3.

Guy Liljegren

S 554

46.7

4.

Lennart Gustafsson

S 589

64.0

5.

Lou Nady

US 150

73.0

6.

Alex Welter

BL 5

73.4

7.

Bernt Johnsson

S 521

91.7

8.

Jacques Busquet

F 196

98.7

9.

David Schmidt

KZ 111

99.0

10.

Kent Carlsson

S 509

104.0

11.

G. Ehlers

G 1277

110.0

12.

J.P. Boumans

B 1

114.0

13.

P. Mondéteguy

F 6

133.0

14.

Claudio Biekarck

BL 10

137.0

15.

Jonty Farmer

KZ 149

139.7

16.

Mauro Pelaschier

I 460

150.0

17.

Bernhard Reist

Z 224

156.0

18.

Richard Hart

K 331

157.0

19.

Prenat

F 435

159.0

20.

Thomas Jungblut

G 1335

161.0

21.

Robert Holbrook

K 351

162.0

22.

Mikael Brandt

S 389

165.0

23.

David Howlett

K 341

166.0

24.

Werner Sülberg

G 1169

170.0

25.

Jean Grandchamp

F 700

175.0

26.

Patrice Charee

F 8

182.0

27.

Kees Douze

H 7

182.0

28.

Achim Türklitz

G 1270

184.0

29.

Craig Thomas

US 934

185.0

30.

Tiemen de Vries

H 500

188.7

31.

J.G. Pasturaud

F 675

192.7

32.

Chedeville

F 60

204.0

33.

Magnus Lidholm

S 583

207.0

34.

Raphalen

F 11

208.7

19. Gold Cup 1974

Long Beach, USA, August 10-17

96 entries from 19 countries

The first Gold Cup in the USA was also won for the first time by a US sailor. After a number of failed attempts Henry Sprague III finally managed to put together a remarkable series. After he finished first with a port start at the pin end in the first race but was disqualified for a PMS, he won three more races twice scored a second and once had a tenth. Although he could not afford another throwout, Henry twice risked again a port start over the entire fleet approaching the pin end at full speed on a screaming port reach and got away with it. But the tension remained up until the last race Since Henry had to count a 10th Ed Bennett too still could have won the Gold Cup. When everybody expected a fascinating duel between the two US sailors, the mob was disappointed. Ed Bennett went inshore in the first beat and ended up 46th, while Henry went out and was 6th. Finally Sprague improved to 2nd to take the trophy with a remarkable 21 points lead, while Ed Bennett improved only to 17th and was finally 4th.

Final Results Gold Cup 1974

1.

Henry Sprague

US 533

22.0

2.

Guy Liljegren

S 554

43.0

3.

Kent Carlsson

S 509

47.7

4.

Ed Bennett

US 403

49.4

5.

Lennart Gustafsson

S 589

67.7

6.

Craig Thomas

US 945

68.4

7.

Dave Howlett

K 341

83.0

8.

Magnus Olin

S 616

85.7

9.

Serge Maury

F 1

87.0

10.

James Hahn

US 692

103.7

11.

Jonty Farmer

KZ 149

105.0

12.

Elias Hatzipavlis

GR 176

110.7

13.

Ron Dougherty

US 919

121.7

14.

Jaques Busquet

F 496

122.7

15.

Claudio Biekarck

BL 69

133.0

16.

Jim Santroch

US 111

141.4

17.

Richard Hart

K 331

166.0

18.

David Schmidt

KZ 111

169.0

19.

Randy MacLaren

US 151

172.0

20.

Lou Nady

US 150

173.0

21.

Tom Jungblut

G 1

173.0

22.

Sanford Riley

KC 143

187.0

23.

Hans van Elst

H 424

188.0

24.

Danny Thompson

US 534

189.0

25.

Lars Ek

S 534

194.0

26.

Brian Todd

KC 1 23

197.0

27.

Tony James

KA 117

199.0

28.

Andreas Von Eicken

G 12

204.0

29.

Jean J. Grandchamp

F 710

213.0

30.

Ulf Arvidsson

S 598

217.0

31.

Peter Conrad

US 951

219.7

32.

Roy Christianson

US 841

220.0

20. Gold Cup 1975

Malmö, Sweden, June 10-19

141 entries from 27 countries

After three sunny days of measurement this Gold Cup started with a surprise-drum-roll-symphony. The first race on Friday 13th started with a force 6 from from the west, a current of 2 knots to the southwest, the water only 5-8 metres deep and cold, rainy weather. 52 boats retired. There must have been about 400 capsizes that day. After the second race the winner John Bertrand from Australia was disqualified for having 22 kg of wet clothing. The next day a strong current against a light wind caused 8 General Recalls, every time the entire fleet drifting over the line without doing anything. Two races on June 16 were abandoned because of too light a wind. Magnus Olin won the next race and was thus leading overall, but collected a DSQ for an early start the next race. By contrast David Howlett enjoyed some water skiing behind the team boat to pass the time while waiting for the wind and could not find his boat when the race finally started. With a throwout Magnus Olin, Jonty Farmer, Baudouin Binkhorst and John Bertrand could still win the Cup after one more race Without another race Serge Maury would have won. Finally a drifter was started. Binkhorst was leading at the last leeward mark, but failed to cover the fleet and lost the Cup. Olin recovered to 21st which was just enough but Maury couldn’t come further than 14th which was not.

Final Results Gold Cup 1975

1.

Magnus Olin

S 616

46.0

2.

Baudouin Binkhorst

H 6

49.0

3.

Jonty Farmer

KZ 149

54.7

4.

Serge Maury

F 711

55.4

5.

Kent Carlsson

S 509

61.0

6.

Chris Law

K 321

71.0

7.

Per Sundelin

S 271

80.7

8.

Guy Liljegren

S 554

86.0

9.

Göran Andersson

S 516

94.0

10.

P. Mondéteguy

F 713

100.0

11.

Bernt Johnsson

S 521

101.0

12.

Lennart Gustafsson

S 589

109.0

13.

Kees Douze

H 7

109.0

14.

Jürgen Wolff

DDR 29

116.0

15.

David Howlett

K 341

118.4

16.

Jacques Rogge

B 2

120.7

17.

Robert Butler

KC 89

133.0

18.

Andrzej Zawieja

PZ 321

133.0

19.

Tom Sandberg

S 637

136.0

20.

D. Breitenstein

L 183

144.7

21.

J.-P. Boumans

B 1

150.0

22.

Walter Mai

G 1341

152.0

23.

Claudio Biekarck

BL 69

156.2

24.

Thomas Jungblut

G 1

157.0

25.

Robert A.H. Holbrook

K 351

161.0

26.

Minski Fabris

Y 50

162.0

27.

Jörgen Lindhardtsen

D 126

167.0

28.

Mikael Brandt

S 389

170.0

29.

Ed Bennett

US 403

173.0

30.

Luciano Lievi

I 517

181.0

31.

A. Fravezzi

I 526

183.0

32.

Gerd Hübner

G 1298

183.0

33.

Jacques Busquet

F 496

183.0

34.

Wolfgang Gerz

G 1519

184.0

35.

Romuald Knasiecki

PZ 49

186.0

36.

Werner Sülberg

G 1511

188.0

37.

B.Gros

H 412

189.0

38.

Svante Björkman

S 550

192.0

39.

Egbert Vincke

G 1300

193.0

40.

Gus Miller

US 275

196.0

41.

M. Lidholm

S 583

198.0

42.

Harro Jäger

G 1428

200.0

43.

John Bertrand

KA 151

201.0

44.

Sandy Riley

KC 143

205.0

45.

Thomas Lundquist

S 532

205.0

46.

Richard Grönblom

L 171

206.0

47.

Graeme Woodroffe

KZ 9

209.0

21. Gold Cup 1976

Brisbane, Australia, January 2-10

82 entries from 14 countries

Despite the travelling difficulties but because of the hospitality of the organiser 76 boats from 13 nations finally gathered for the first start. Most of the races were in very strong wind and a short bumpy sea. Chris Law who had been preparing himself for months to beat his Olympic rival David Howlett, showed exceptionally skilful boat handling in these exceptionally rough conditions and went into an early lead overall. In the sixth race the wind shifted and the race committee signalled a change of course for the last beat. In accordance with the sailing instructions this required a rounding of the mark the opposite way. Only Ed Bennett and Jacques Busquet did so. When Ed finished fourth and got the gun, Farmer, Riley, Law and the rest of the fleet recognised their mistake, rushed back to the leeward mark to unwind and reround the mark, careful not to inform those still labouring upwind, that they had rounded incorrectly. After a heated protest hearing the International Jury overruled the Race Committee and threw the race out. In the last race only Farmer could have taken the Cup from Law. But Chris managed a second behind superb John Bertrand in hair-raising survival conditions with Farmer 4th. Law in 1st, Farmer in 2nd and Howlett in 4th sailed the new double-bottom fibreglass hulls by Peter Taylor, which were extremely fast downwind.

Final Results Gold Cup 1976

1.

Chris Law

K 321

11.7

2.

Jonty Farmer

KZ 149

22.0

3.

John Bertrand

KA 151

26.7

4.

David Howlett

K 341

40.0

5.

Lennart Gustafsson

S 589

47.8

6.

J. S. Douglas

KZ 169

63.0

7.

Robert Butler

KC 89

70.4

8.

Sandford Riley

KC 143

73.7

9.

Bret de Thier

KZ 163

78.0

10.

Hans Werner Zachariassen

G 1399

84.7

11.

Kent Carlsson

S 509

86.0

11.

Craig Thomas

US 963

86.0

13.

James Hahn

US 973

87.0

14.

John Ferguson

KA 133

97.0

15.

Nick Oundjian

KC 145

100.0

16.

Bryan Treleaven

KZ 176

107.0

17.

Peter Vollebregt

H 4

110.7

18.

H. G. EhIers

G 1277

113.0

19.

Barry Thom

KZ 174

120.7

20.

Magnus Olin

S 600

127.0

21.

Gus Miller

US 975

137.0

22.

Tommy Sandberg

S 591

145.0

23.

Ed Bennett

US 403

150.0

24.

David Schmidt

KZ 179

155.0

25.

Richard Grombloom

L 171

157.0

26.

Guy Liljegren

S 554

160.0

27.

Ron Jenyns

KA 132

169.0

28.

Tom Anderson

KA 142

173.0

22. Finn World Week 1977

Palamos, Spain, October 6-17

129 entries from 26 countries

Because the Spanish Government refused to accept the participation of one competitor from South Africa, the IFA withdrew the Gold Cup from competition in 1977 and renamed the event as Finn World Week. The week was distinguished by feeble breezes and only five of the total of seven planned races could be sailed. 21 year old Joaquin Blanco won two races, was always among the top 10 and finished with 23.3 points ahead of another Spaniard José Doreste. They both used older Roga boats. The leading sails in these, days were Musto and North. A few Boyce Spars were still among the predominant Needlespars.

Final Results World Week 1977

1.

Joaquin Blanco

E 1

19.7

2.

José Luis Doreste

E 109

.43.0

3.

Claudio Biekarck

BL 89

43.0

4.

Andrei Balashov

SR 2

47.0

5.

Lennart Heselius

S 589

52.4

6.

Kent Carlsson

S 677

69.0

7.

Magnus Olin

S 644

61.0

8.

Tomasz Rumszewicz

PZ 379

62.0

9.

Mauro Pelaschier

I 509

69.0

10.

David Howlett

K 341

69.0

11.

Guy Liljegren

S 665

69.7

12.

David Buemi

US 965

71.7

13.

Paul Higgins

KC 156

80.0

14.

Hans Werner Zachariassen

G 1559

80.0

15.

Chris Boumans

B 1

81.0

16.

Christopher Law

K 321

86.0

17.

Paul Rudling

KZ 186

95.0

18.

August Miller

US 975

105.0

19.

Werner Sülberg

G 1511

110.0

20.

Peter Vollebregt

H 535

112.0

21.

Graham Deegan

KZ 185

112.7

22.

Jean Grandchamp

F 730

117.7

23.

Zakhorow

SR 3

119.0

24.

Kiepa

SR 8

127.0

25.

Anthony Hermann

US 989

127.7

26.

Douglas

KZ 35

133.0

27.

Minski Fabris

Y 53

134.7

28.

Ryszard Skarbinski

PZ 28

134.7

29.

Derek Breitenstein

L 96

146.0

30.

A. Lochbrunner

G 1478

148.0

31.

Marteau

F 702

149.0

32.

A. Hellbrügge

G 1513

150.0

33.

Theodis

GR 69

155.0

34.

Elias Hatzipavlis

GR 180

164.0

35.

Hanbrook

B 11

167.0

36.

Gerd Hübner

G 1562

167.0

37.

Martensson

S 655

167.0

38.

Delfs

S 633

171.0

23. Gold Cup 1978

Manzanillo, Mexico, November 16-26

69 entries from 14 countries

There were light to medium winds in the most beautiful setting for a Gold Cup up to now. Most of the sailors had problems coping with the heat in November. Generally the wind was shifty and there was no pattern to follow, so nobody knew what to do. There were also strong currents appearing and disappearing. Consequently, many sailors had erratic results. A few old faces met a large number of young new ones. John Bertrand, up to then an unknown US newcomer from the Laser class, was not granted the chance to beat the well known John Bertrand from Australia but only the rest of the top skippers. In the fourth race there were 5 General Recalls. Therefore the race committee invoked a one-minute rule with a DSQ, but did not notify the boats which were thrown out. 24 boats were disqualified, including Blanco and Law, who in subsequent starts pushed other boats over the line. After the race Law protested the entire race, which would have given him the Cup. The appeal went to the IYRU but was finally refused. For the first time 9 of the top 10 boats were Vanguards.

Final Results Gold Cup 1978

1.

John Bertrand

US 1007

46.7

2.

Joaquin Blanco

E 1

59.7

3.

Carl Buchan

US 1015

61.0

4.

Loui Nady

US 150

64.7

5.

Lawrence Lemieux

KC 201

75.0

6.

Buzz Reynolds

KC 996

80.7

7.

August Miller

US 975

84.0

8.

Ed Bennett

US 3

84.0

9.

Minski Fabris

Y 53

89.0

10.

Cam Lewis

US 971

90.0

11.

Chris Law

K 321

91.0

12.

Rick Hewitt

KC 179

92.0

13.

Peter Higgins

KC 156

96.7

14.

Jere White

US 999

98.0

15.

Jesus Turro

E 77

107.7

16.

Sanford Riley

KC 143

112.0

17.

Jim Santroch

US 111

117.0

18.

Kent Carlsson

S 677

122.4

19.

Ed Baird

US 419

125.0

20.

Brian Todd

KC 164

126.7

21.

Craig Healy

US 422

127.0

22.

Tony Herrmann

US 989

141.0

23.

Randy McLaren

US 1013

141.0

24. Gold Cup 1979

Weymouth, England, September 5-15

135 entries from 27 nations

After the disaster of Whitstable in 1964 the British had finally recovered from their shock and asked to organise the Gold Cup again. In contrast to the reputation of Weymouth the wind was light and shifty the entire week. The current was frequently the strongest factor for sailing. In the first race it separated three boats at the leeward mark who had just managed to round, when the entire fleet started to drift back to the windward mark. In the second race the current going against the wind collected about 100 boats at the gybe mark packed together like logs. Whoever tried to sail outside, around the pack, had no wind behind the pack and drifted without hope, right into the other boats.

This Gold Cup was dominated by a gang of new US ex Laser sailors. John Bertrand, the 1978 winner, lost the Cup in the third race, when he did not make it passed Lester on port tack. John Bertrand, who had dominated the North American and European races of that year previously, was leading overall up to the last beat of the last race, but finally had to relinquish the Gold Cup to his team mate 21 year old Cameron Lewis.